Electronic gaming and/or gambling machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an electronic gaming and/or gambling machine, in particular to a slot machine which is coin operable or is operable by monetary equivalents, comprising a display apparatus for the display of at least one game and optionally additional information, with the display apparatus having at least a first and a second screen on which at least one screen display, preferably a main game, and one second screen display, preferably a bonus game and/or additional information, can be displayed as well as a control panel for the actuation of the gaming and/or gambling machine. In accordance with the invention, the electronic gaming and/or gambling machine is characterized in that a switching device is provided which is actuable by a machine user by an input device for the switching of the first screen representation from the first screen to the second screen and of the second screen representation from the second screen to the first screen or to a further screen and/or vice versa.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/523,385, filed on Jul. 16, 2009, the content of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an electronic gaming and/or gamblingmachine, in particular to a slot machine which is coin operable or isoperable by monetary equivalents, comprising a display apparatus for thedisplay of at least one game and optionally additional information, withthe display apparatus having at least two screens on which at least onescreen representation, preferably a main game, and one second screenrepresentation, preferably a bonus game and, or additional information,can be displayed as well as a control panel for the actuation of thegaining and/or gambling machine.

Slot machines operated by coins or monetary equivalents are frequentlymade in the form of reel gaming machines, with a plurality of rotatingreels having different game symbols conventionally rotating in the viewwindow of the display field, as is shown, for example, in DE 200 00 990U1 and with winnings being output when the reels having the same namesymbols stop along a In this respect, a control panel having a pluralityof control buttons is provided beneath the display field, approximatelyat the level of the stomach of the player, said control buttons beingoperable by hand and serving, among other things, to set the rotatingreels into operation or to stop them.

In more recent times, it has become known to use screens instead of suchmechanical, actually rotating reels and to represent the rotating reelsgraphically on the respective screen. WO 2005/041139, for example, showssuch a slot machine having a screen representation of the game to beplayed in which two screens are provided which have a large area, whichare inclined toward one another and on which games to be played with thegaming machine can be displayed. The arrangement of two screens bringsalong a considerable increase in the appeal of the game and in thedegree of entertainment since, for example, two games can be played inparallel with one another or additional information on the game runningon the other screen can be displayed on the second screen. In thisrespect, it is likewise possible to display information not relatingdirectly to the ongoing game on the second screen; for example,information relating to additional entertainment options in therespective gambling casino, restaurant menus, news tickers, etc. A morerelaxed vision mid better visibility of the screen displays can beachieved by the mutually inclined arrangement of the screens since thedirection of gaze toward the screens is less oblique than withnon-inclined screen arrangements.

Nevertheless, vision impairments, for example by light reflectionscaused by ceiling lamps or the like, can also occur with such machines.In addition, depending on a person's height, it is, for example,possible that a game which interests the player more is displayed on ascreen which is more difficult for him to see, whereby the player maybecome fatigued, which can bring about a reduction in the appeal of thegame and in concentration. In addition, with slot machines having largescreens which are arranged above one another, the plurality of gamesongoing at the same time are not able to be followed equally ideally inthe player position predetermined by the control panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Starting from this, it is the underlying object of the invention toprovide an unproved electronic gaming and/or gambling machine, inparticular a slot machine, which avoids disadvantages of the prior artand further develops the latter in an advantageous manner. Inparticular, the ability to follow the games shown on the screens shouldbe improved in an ergonomically favorable player position, the appeal ofthe game of the machine should be increased and a fatigue-freeindividually more comfortable use of the gaming machine should be madepossible.

This object is solved in accordance with the invention by a gainingand/or gambling machine in accordance with claim 1. Preferredembodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed to make the machine variable with respect tothe screen representations on the plurality of screens so that a playeror machine user can change the screen representations on the at leasttwo screens of the machine according to taste. In accordance with theinvention, a switching device which can be actuated by a machine user byan input device is provided for the switching of the initially namedfirst screen representation from the first screen to the second screenand of the second screen representation from the second screen to thefirst screen or to a further screen and/or vice versa. The plurality ofscreens form flip screens which enable the machine user to switch thescreen representations to and fro between the screens and to swap thescreen representations on the screens between one another. If, forexample, a game of more interest for the respective machine user isrunning on a screen which is more difficult for him to view personally,he can activate the named switching device via the input device so thatthe named game is switched to another screen which is easier for him tosee, whereas the game provided there per se or the informationrepresentation provided there is switched to the in turn other screen.The switchable screen representation in this respect does notnecessarily have to be a representation of the game offered by themachine, but can rather also comprise the representation of additionalinformation. If for example, a player wants to read this additionalinformation more accurately, the corresponding screen view cantemporarily be placed onto the screen better visible for him or for her.

In a further development of the invention, the gaming or gamblingmachine can also have more than two screens, with the screenrepresentations advantageously being able to be switched to and frobetween the then three or more screens by means of the switching device.The switching of the screen representations can in this respectgenerally take place in different manners. For example, a so-to-say,ring-like switching on of the screen representations can be effectedsuch that the screen representation of the first screen is switched tothe second screen, the screen representation of the second screen isswitched to the third screen, the screen representation of the thirdscreen is switched to an nth screen and finally the screenrepresentation of the nth screen is switched to the first screen.Alternatively or additionally, however, a switchability of the screenrepresentations differing herefrom can also be realized; for example, apairwise switching to and fro of the screen representations, for examplebetween a first screen and a fourth screen and between a second screenand a third screen. Furthermore, further switching devices can also beprovided, optionally also while not taking account of all of the severalscreens, for example to the effect that the screen representation of thefirst screen is switched to a third screen, the screen representation ofa second screen is switched to the first screen and the screenrepresentation of the third screen is switched to the second screen,whereas the screen representation on a fourth screen remains unchanged.

In this respect, in an advantageous further development of theinvention, the switching device is made such that the screenrepresentations during an ongoing game and its representation can beswitched to and fro between the screens. The appeal of the game of thegaming machine can hereby be considerably increased. A game can inparticular be switched to a screen preferred by the player, e.g. onto acentral screen, by a switching device made in this manner during itsexciting phases, whereas the game is placed onto a different, perhapsless preferred screen in its less exciting game phases. In this respect,another game, which is perhaps just in its exciting phase, canalternately in turn be switched to the main screen. A player can herebyalways switch the respective most exciting game to the screen preferredby him, whereas other games continue on other, less preferred screens.

The switching device is in this respect advantageously made to workwithout interruption so that a game continues without interruptionirrespective of a switching of its screen representation. Withoutinterrupting the course of the game, the representation of a game isfirst displayed on the one screen and, after actuation of the switchingdevice is then represented on the other screen and continued there.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, the switchingto and fro of the screen representations from the one screen to anotherscreen and vice versa can also take place automatically. A switchingcontrol provided for this purposes actuates the switching deviceautomatically in dependence on a predetermined operating condition ofthe gaming and/or gambling machine.

The automatic switching of the screen representations between thedifferent screens can in this respect take place in dependence ondifferent operating conditions. In accordance with a simple embodimentof the invention, the switching of the screen representations can, forexample, take place with time control, for example to the extent thatthe screen representation is switched automatically after the end of apredetermined time period, for example beginning with the start of agame.

An embodiment of the switch control is, however, preferred which causesthe automatic switching of the screen representations from the onescreen to the other screen in dependence on the course of the gameand/or on the occurrence of a characteristic game situation and/or gamecondition of a game represented on one of the screens, in particular onthe occurrence of a predetermined game situation and/or game conditionwhich can be characterized by a specific game control signal. Forexample, the automatic screen control can react to an input requestoutput by the game, in particular when it is shown on a screen less easyto see and less easy to reach for the player and/or less preferred. If,for example, on a touch screen machine, an input request is output on ascreen less easy to reach for the player, the switch control canautomatically switch this screen representation to the screen which canbe reached more easily by the player so that the player can reach thecorresponding touch screen field in an ergonomically more favorablemanner. Alternatively or additionally, an automatic screen switching canalso takes place with other game situations such as on the occurrence ofan end phase of a game, for example to the extent that a game enteringthe end phase is switched to the main screen of the gaming machine.Alternatively or additionally, the automatic screen switching can alsotake place temporarily, for example when a game placed onto a screenwhich is more difficult to see is just entering into its exciting phase;for example when a reel game is approaching the stopping of the reels intime within a predetermined time window.

The manual actuation of the actuation device can generally take placedifferently. In a further development of the invention, the inputapparatus provided for this purpose can have an actuation button for theactuation of the switching device by pressing a button, touching abutton and/or approaching a button. A mechanical push button and/or agraphical touch screen button can in particular be used in this respect.The actuation button is in this respect advantageously arranged in thecontrol panel of the gaming or gambling machine and is provided for handactuation. Alternatively or additionally, the actuation button can,however, also be made as a foot pedal, a knee pedal or as a pedal to beactuated by another part of the body, said pedal being able to bearranged directly at the housing of the gaming and/or gambling machineor being able to be provided spaced apart herefrom in the manner of aremote control module.

Alternatively or additionally to an actuation button acting in a tactilemanner, the input apparatus can also be made to work in a non-contactmanner; it can preferably have a movement sensor for the sensing of amovement of a part of the body, in particular a hand movement, for theactuation of the switching apparatus by a hand movement. A movementsensor can in particular be provided in the form of a light barrierwhich already senses the approaching of a hand to the input apparatusand triggers the switching. A tilting movement of the back of the handin manner of turning a page can, for example, be sensed by a suitablemovement sensor. Other input sensors working in a non-contact manner arenaturally likewise possible.

Alternatively or additionally, an acoustic input means can also beprovided for the actuation of the switching apparatus by voice and/orsound, said input means, for example, being able to recognize a whistleor a handclap and being able to trigger the switching of the screenrepresentation between the screens in the aforesaid manner on thedetection of the corresponding sound or of the corresponding soundsequence.

In a further development of the invention, the input apparatus hasdifferent actuation modes for the actuation of the switching device indifferent switching directions and/or in different switching modes. Theinput apparatus can in particular be actuated in different manners totrigger different switching procedures. In accordance with anadvantageous embodiment of the invention, provision can be made that, ona simple actuation of the input apparatus, the screen representationsare switched on in a predetermined direction; for example, the screenrepresentation initially shown on a first screen to a second screen; thescreen representation initially shown on the second screen to the thirdscreen, etc. If, in contrast, the input apparatus is actuated multipletimes, in particular in the manner of a double click of a computermouse, a switching of the screen representations can take place in asecond direction opposite to the first and/or a preset association ofthe screen representations with the different screens can be restored,for example to the effect that, independently of the previously carriedout switching procedures, a main game is again switched to a main screenand a secondary game and/or additional information is again switched toan additional screen.

Alternatively or additionally to a multiple actuation of the same inputmeans such as the named double click, different switching procedures canalso be triggered by actuation of different input means. Provision canin particular be made in an advantageous further development of theinvention that a first switching procedure is triggered by actuation ofa first input means and a second switching procedure is triggered byactuation of a second input means, with it in turn being able to beparticularly advantageous to trigger the second switching procedure by ajoint actuation of the first and second input means. When the inputmeans is made in the form of actuation keys, provision can in particularbe made that a first switching procedure is triggered by a simplepressing of the switching button, whereas a second switching procedure,for example a reverse switching of the screen representations, can betriggered by pressing a button combination, preferably by simultaneouspressing of the switching button together with a further control button.

Alternatively or additionally to such a simple actuation and multipleactuation, the actuation device itself can also have a plurality ofactuation devices, for example in the manner of a joystick which can betilted to the front and to the rear to be able to switch the screenrepresentations in a forward direction from a first screen to a secondscreen, etc. as well as to the rear to be able to switch from a secondscreen to a first screen, etc.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, thegaming or gambling machine has an indication apparatus which can becontrolled by the switching device, which is preferably made as acousticand by means of which a switching of the screen representations in theaforesaid manner is indicated acoustically and can thus be detected by amachine user not only by detection of the changing screenrepresentations itself, but additionally also by the additionally outputindication signal, for example, also when the machine user is notactually observing the screens. The output of an acoustic indicationsignal is preferred in this respect. Alternatively or additionally,however, differently made indication signals can be used; for example, avibration alarm which is output on the switching of the screenrepresentations can be sent to a game control button usually occupied bythe player.

In a further development of the invention, the indication apparatus inthis respect outputs different indication signals for differentswitching procedures so that the respective switching procedures can beindividually recognized with reference to the output indication signal.If, for example, an acoustic indication signal is output in theaforesaid manner, an indication signal varying differently in pitch independence on the switching procedure can be output. For example, on aswitching upward of the screen representation of the main game to ascreen arranged further upward, a higher tone or an upwardly moving tonesequence can be output which so-to-say acoustically indicates the upwardswitching, whereas vice versa, on a moving down of the screenrepresentation of the (main) game to the lower screen, a lower toneand/or a downwardly moving tone sequence is output.

The switching device can generally intervene at different points of themachine and screen control and of the associated signal transmissioncircuits to switch the screen representations to and fro between thescreens of the gaming and/or gambling machine in the desired manner. Toachieve a particularly fast switching, in accordance with anadvantageous embodiment of the invention, the switching device canmanipulate the graphic controller or a plurality of graphic controllersby which the screens are controlled. The hardware of the machine for thescreen control can so-to-say be manipulated electronically by thecorresponding manipulation means associated with the switching device;in particular signal paths and/or memory access addresses fixed in therespective graphic controller can be swapped or swapped cyclically bythe switching device, whereby the screen representations are switched toother screens.

Alternatively or additionally, the switching device can also includeprogram control means for the technical software change of the controlprogram executed in a central control unit and/or can include means forthe changing of the data or data contents which control the screendisplay in a technical software manner. The switching device cantherefore also effect the switching of the screen representations on atechnical software level.

Alternatively or additionally, in accordance with a simpler embodimentof the invention, provision can also be made that the switching devicehas a signal gate or a switch gate, preferably a switch board, which isarranged in the signal path or signal paths between the aforesaidgraphic controller and the screens controlled thereby. The signal pathsare swapped between the graphic controller and the screens by switchingthe signal gate, whereby the respective screen representation is movedto another screen than the screen defined per se by the graphiccontroller.

The switching of the screen displays can generally cover differentregions of the screens. In this respect, in an advantageous furtherdevelopment of the invention, the respective total screenrepresentation, i.e. the total screen representation shown on the areaof a screen, is switched from the one screen to the other screen andvice versa.

Alternatively to this, the switching of the screen displays can,however, also only cover a part region of the area of the respectivescreen. Provision can in particular be made that the first screendisplay and/or the second screen display is/are switched to only a partof the screen area of the respective screen in the manner of a pop-upwindow, without the remaining part of the screen area of the respectivescreen also being covered by the flip-screen procedure. This can inparticular be of advantage when, for example, additional information canbe called up on one of the screens in the manner of a pop-up window. Ifthe machine user wants to fetch this additional information to a screenpreferred by him, the machine user actuates the switching device in acorresponding manner so that the named pop-up window is switched fromthe one screen to the other screen. It can be advantageous for thispurpose if the actuation device can be actuated in different operatingmodes in the aforesaid manner, with provision being able to be made, forexample, that only the respective screen window is switched on to thenext screen by double clicking the actuation device and an underlyingscreen window or a screen window in the background remains on therespective screen and is not switched along, whereas a simple clickingof the actuation device, for example, can effect a switching on of thetotal screen display.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following withrespect to a preferred embodiment and to associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWSINGS

There are shown in the drawings:

FIG. 1: a perspective front view of an electronic slot machine havingtwo screens which are arranged above one another, which are arranged atoblique angles to one another and on which a plurality of games can bedisplayed simultaneously and/or a game and additional information;

FIG. 2: a perspective front view of the slot machine of FIG. 1, with, incomparison with FIG. 1, the screen representation of the lower screenhaving been switched to the upper screen and the screen representationof the upper screen having been switched to the lower screen;

FIG. 3: a schematic, simplified representation of the machine and screencontrol and of the screen device associated therewith for the switchingof the screen representations; and

FIG. 4: a perspective side view of an electronic slot machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The gaming machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 forms a standing machine andincludes a machine housing 1 which is approximately as tall as a person,which is, roughly speaking, box-shaped and whose upper half serves themounting of a display apparatus 2 which, in the drawn embodiment,comprises two large-area screens 3 and 4 arranged above one another,with it being understood that more than two screens could also beprovided. As FIG. 1 shows, the gaming machine housing 1 has in its frontside 5 two cut-outs 6 and 7 which include an oblique angle with oneanother so that the screens 3 and 4 arranged above one another aretilted with respect to one another, likewise at an oblique angle to oneanother, about a horizontal axis. In a further development of theinvention, the gaining machine can also be made as a slant-top machine.

The gaming machine housing 1 has a control panel section 8 beneath thetwo screens 3 and 4 which projects towards the player and extends in thedrawn embodiment over the total width of the machine housing 1 and isessentially box-shaped. The upper side of the control panel section 8 ismade approximately planar and accommodates the control panel 10 whichincludes a plurality of control buttons 9 in the form of push buttons tobe actuated by hand. In the embodiment drawn, the control buttons 9 aremechanical switches; however, it is understood that the control buttons9 can also be actuable in accordance with other working principles; theycan in particular be part of a touch screen. In a manner known per se,the control panel section 8 can furthermore include a money input and/oroutput unit 11 which can be made in different manners in a manner knownper se and can, for example, also include, in addition to a coin andbanknote module, a token and/or ticket module or an electronic cardreader and writer so that the gaming machine can be coin-operated andoperated by monetary equivalents.

The games displayed on the screens 3 and 4 are controlled by anelectronic control device 12, preferably in the form of a computerhaving at least one CPU which is accommodated in the interior of themachine housing 1, in its lower half. The control device 13 in thisrespect, on the one hand, controls the display apparatus 2 and, on theother hand, communicates with the control buttons 9 of the control panel10 as well as with the money input and/or output unit 11.

As FIG. 3 shows, one or more graphic controllers 13 which communicate(s)with the two screens 3 and 4 and control(s) them is/are disposeddownstream of the actual control device 12.

In the embodiment drawn in the Figures, respective different games canbe displayed on the two screens 3 and 4, said games being able to be runby the control unit 12 simultaneously, with time offset and/or after oneanother, with, in the drawn embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1, a reelgame being shown on the lower screen 4, whereas on the upper screen 3 adarts game is shown as well as additional information in an additionalor pop-up window 14, said information being able to be superimposedautomatically temporarily or permanently or being able to be called upby an information button of the control panel section 8. The games showncan run automatically and/or can be controlled by the control buttonsprovided in the control panel section 8 which can, for example, includecontrol buttons to increase the stake, to stop, brake or accelerate therotating game reels of the roll game or other control buttons to controlfurther game functions.

In particular a switch button 15 of an input device 16 is provided inthe control panel section 8 by means of which a switching device 17 canbe actuated to switch the screen representations on the screens 3 and 4.If the switch button 15 is pressed, the screen representation 18, whichis displayed on the lower screen 4 in accordance with a default setup,is switched to the upper screen 3, whereas simultaneously the screenrepresentation 19 intended for the upper screen 3 is switched to thelower screen 4. The predetermined setup of the screen representationscan in this respect be made differently, but be made in accordance withan advantageous embodiment of the invention such that a main game—in thedrawn embodiment the reel game—is shown on the main screen—in the drawnembodiment the lower screen 4—whereas a secondary game—in the drawnembodiment the darts game—and, optionally, additional information beingshown on a secondary screen—in the drawn embodiment the upper screen 3.This default setup can be reversed by actuating the switching device 17.

Advantageously, the named switching procedure can be displayed by anindication apparatus 20 in addition to the visually detectable switchingof the screen representations, with a visual and acoustic indicationapparatus 20 being provided in the drawn embodiment which, on theswitching of the screen representations, outputs a flashing light, onthe one hand, and a preset tone sequence, on the other hand, as soon asthe screen representations are switched.

As can be recognized from FIG. 3, the switching of the screenrepresentations can be effected on different levels of the machinecontrol. The switching device 17 can be realized in a technical softwaremanner and can manipulate the component executing the machine software,in particular the central control part of the control unit 12, in atechnical software manner and/or manipulate the data or data contentsused in this respect to effect the changed screen displays. This issymbolized by the arrow 21 in FIG. 3. In a particularly advantageousfurther development of the invention, the switching device 17 can alsoinclude manipulation means 22 for the electronic manipulation of thegraphic controller 13 or of the optionally provided plurality of graphiccontrollers 13 by which the signal paths and/or memory addresses presetin the graphic controller 13 are swapped or are swapped cyclically.Alternatively, the switching device 17 can also have a signal gate inthe form of a switch board which is connected between the graphiccontroller 13 and the two screens 3 and 4 in the signal paths and whichswaps the signals of the graphic controller to the two screens 3 and 4in dependence on the gate position.

The switching device 17 and/or the input device 16 can advantageously beactuated in different operating modes. Provision is made in this respectin the drawn embodiment that the total screen representation 18 of thelower screen 4 is switched to the upper screen 3 and the total screenrepresentation 19 of the upper screen 3 is switched to the lower screen4 by a single actuation of the switch button 15. FIG. 2 shows the resultof this complete switching procedure in which the aforesaid additionalwindow 14 has also been switched to the other screen.

Advantageously, however, also only a part of the screen representationscan be switched to the next screen. The additional window 14 onlyfilling the screen areas in part can in particular be switched from theupper screen 3 to the lower screen 4 and vice versa by multiple clickingof the switch button 15 and/or by actuation of the switch button 15together with a further control button in the manner of a double clickof a computer mouse. The additional window 14 can in this respect per sebe fetched to initially the upper screen 3 by a separate informationbutton. Alternatively or additionally, the switch button 15 can also beoccupied to the extent that on the first double click, the additionalwindow 14 is fetched to the upper screen 3 and with the second doubleclick is then fetched to the lower screen 4 and with furtherdouble-click actuations is then switched hack again to the upper screen3 and/or is completely switched away.

By a further actuation of the switch button 15 in the respectiveoperating mode, the screen representations 18, 19 as well as theadditional window 14 can again be switched back to the respectivestarting screen.

We claim:
 1. An electronic gaming or gambling machine or combinationthereof, comprising: a display apparatus for displaying at least onegame, wherein the display apparatus has at least a first and a secondscreen on which at least one first screen representation comprising amain game, and one second screen representation comprising at least oneof a bonus game and additional information, can be displayed, andwherein the first and second screen are tilted relative to each other atan obtuse angle; a control panel for the actuation of at least one ofthe gaming and gambling machine; an input device comprising an actuationbutton, wherein the actuation button comprises at least one of a pushbutton and a touch screen button; and a switching device actuatable by amachine user by the input device for a switching of the first screenrepresentation from the first screen to the second screen or to afurther screen or vice versa and of the second screen representationfrom the second screen to the first screen or to a further screen orvice versa; wherein the actuation button is configured to actuate theswitching device by at least one of actuating and touching the button;and wherein said switching device is configured to be actuatable by amachine user independently from the course of a game and from thecontrol of the game and is made such that the screen representations canbe switched to and from the first and second screens during an ongoinggame; and wherein the switching device is configured to replace theentire screen display of the first screen with the entire screen displayof the second or a further screen and replace the entire screen displayof the second display with the entire screen display of the first or afurther screen.
 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the display apparatusincludes three or more screens and the first and second screenrepresentations can be switched to and fro between the three or morescreens by the switching device.
 3. The machine of claim 1, wherein theswitching device is made such that the first and second screenrepresentations can be switched to and fro between the first and secondscreens during an ongoing game and a representation of the ongoing gameon at least one of the first and second screens.
 4. The machine of claim1, wherein the switching device works without interrupting the game. 5.The machine of claim 1, wherein a switch control is provided for theautomatic actuation of the switching device dependent on a presetoperating condition of the gaming or gambling machine.
 6. The machine ofclaim 1, wherein the switch control works in dependence on a course of agame shown on one of the first and second screens, wherein the course ofthe game comprises an occurrence of at least one of a predetermined gamesituation and game condition comprising at least one of an inputrequest, a game result and an end phase of at least one of a game and arestart of the game.
 7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the input devicehas a movement sensor for the detection of a movement of a part of thebody, in particular a hand movement, for the actuation of the switchingdevice by hand movement.
 8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the inputdevice has an acoustic input for the actuation of the switching deviceby at least one of voice and sound.
 9. The machine of claim 1, whereinthe first actuation mode can be triggered by a simple actuation of aninput means of the input device and the second actuation mode can betriggered by a multiple actuation of the named input means, and whereinthe multiple actuation of the named input means comprises a doubleclick.
 10. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first actuation mode canbe triggered by actuation of a first input means of the input device andthe second actuation mode can be triggered by actuation of a secondinput means of the input device.
 11. The machine of claim 10, whereinthe second actuation mode can be triggered by actuation of the firstinput means together with the second input means, in particular bypressing a button combination.
 12. The machine of claim 1, wherein theinput device has different actuation modes for the actuation of theswitching device in at least one of different switching directions andin different switching modes; and wherein the input device is made suchthat an actuation of the input device in a first actuation mode triggersa switching of the switching device in at least one of a first switchingdirection and a switching of a first predetermined portion of the screendisplays and an actuation of the input device in a second actuation modetriggers a switching in a second switching direction differing from atleast one of the first switching direction and of a second predeterminedportion of the screen displays.
 13. An electronic gaming or gamblingmachine or combination thereof, comprising: a display apparatus fordisplaying at least one game, wherein the display apparatus has at leasta first and a second screen on which at least one first screenrepresentation comprising a main game, and one second screenrepresentation comprising at least one of a bonus game and additionalinformation, can be displayed, and wherein the first and second screensare arranged separate from each other by a housing portion; a controlpanel for the actuation of at least one of the gaming and gamblingmachine; an input device comprising an actuation button, wherein theactuation button comprises at least one of a push button and a touchscreen button; and a switching device actuatable by a machine user bythe input device for a switching of the first screen representation fromthe first screen to the second screen or to a further screen or viceversa and of the second screen representation from the second screen tothe first screen or to a further screen or vice versa; wherein theactuation button is configured to actuate the switching device by atleast one of actuating and touching the button; and wherein saidswitching device is configured to be actuatable by a machine userindependently from the course of a game and from the control of the gameand is made such that the screen representations can be switched to andfrom the first and second screens during an ongoing game; and whereinthe switching device is configured to replace the entire screen displayof the first screen with the entire screen display of the second or afurther screen and replace the entire screen display of the seconddisplay with the entire screen display of the first or a further screen.14. The gaming or gambling machine of claim 13, wherein the switchingdevice has a manipulator for the manipulation of at least one graphiccontroller by which the first and second screens can be controlled. 15.The gaming or gambling machine of claim 13, wherein the switching devicehas a program controller for the change of the control program executedin at least one central control unit in a technical software manner,said control program controlling the screen display in a technicalsoftware manner.
 16. The gaming or gambling machine of claim 13, whereinthe switching device has a switchable signal gate comprising a switchboard, in a signal path or a plurality of signal paths between one ormore graphic controllers and the first and second screens controlledthereby.
 17. The gaming or gambling machine of claim 13, wherein machineis configured to at least one of switch the first screen display to atotal screen area of the first screen, and switch the second screendisplay to a total screen area of the second screen.
 18. The gaming orgambling machine of claim 13, wherein the gaming or gambling machine isa slot machine which is coin operable or is operable by monetaryequivalents.
 19. The machine of claim 13, wherein the input device hasdifferent actuation modes for the actuation of the switching device inat least one of different switching directions and in differentswitching modes; and wherein the input device is made such that anactuation of the input device in a first actuation mode triggers aswitching of the switching device in at least one of a first switchingdirection and a switching of a first predetermined portion of the screendisplays and an actuation of the input device in a second actuation modetriggers a switching in a second switching direction differing from atleast one of the first switching direction and of a second predeterminedportion of the screen displays.
 20. An electronic gaming or gamblingmachine or combination thereof, comprising: a display apparatus fordisplaying at least one game, wherein the display apparatus has at leasta first and a second screen on which at least one first screenrepresentation comprising a main game, and one second screenrepresentation comprising at least one of a bonus game and additionalinformation, can be displayed, and wherein the first and second screenare adjacent to each other; a control panel for the actuation of atleast one of the gaming and gambling machine; an input device comprisingan actuation button, wherein the actuation button comprises at least oneof a push button and a touch screen button; and a switching deviceactuatable by a machine user by the input device for a switching of thefirst screen representation from the first screen to the second screenor to a further screen or vice versa and of the second screenrepresentation from the second screen to the first screen or to afurther screen or vice versa; wherein the actuation button is configuredto actuate the switching device by at least one of actuating andtouching the button; and wherein said switching device is configured tobe actuatable by a machine user independently from the course of a gameand from the control of the game and is made such that the screenrepresentations can be switched to and from the first and second screensduring an ongoing game; and wherein the switching device is configuredto replace the entire screen display of the first screen with the entirescreen display of the second or a further screen and replace the entirescreen display of the second display with the entire screen display ofthe first or a further screen.
 21. The gaining or gambling machine ofclaim 20, wherein the gaming or gambling machine is a slot machine whichis coin operable or is operable by monetary equivalents.
 22. The gamingor gambling machine of claim 20, wherein the display apparatus includesthree or more screens and the first and second screen representationscan be switched to and fro between the three or more screens by theswitching device.
 23. The machine of claim 20 wherein the input devicehas different actuation modes for the actuation of the switching devicein at least one of different switching directions and in differentswitching modes; and wherein the input device is made such that anactuation of the input device in a first actuation mode triggers aswitching of the switching device in at least one of a first switchingdirection and a switching of a first predetermined portion of the screendisplays and an actuation of the input device in a second actuation modetriggers a switching in a second switching direction differing from atleast one of the first switching direction and of a second predeterminedportion of the screen displays.